Lenten meditations

Carmel Books blog has a list of links to Lenten meditations, from "Practical Meditations For Every Day in the Year on the Life of Our Lord Jesus Christ composed chiefly for the Use of Religious by a Father of the Society of Jesus."

Catholic Commonwealth Games gold medallist seeks Olympic sponsorship!

From Carmel Books blog:

Catholic champion Charlie Flynn made sure his brown scapular was prominently on show to millions of BBC and YouTube viewers on Saturday night after winning a boxing gold for Scotland at the Commonwealth Games.

[For shameless plug for Carmel Books' scapulars go to the link above! - Clare]

The Catholic Champ needs sponsorship to help him prepare towards selection for the next Olympic Games. So if there are any Catholic businessmen out there who read this appeal and could possibly help sponsor Charlie - either in large part or in small part - please get in touch with Carmel Books and we'll put you in touch with Team Charlie.

Imagine a Catholic gold medallist in two years' time standing on top of a podium on a world stage with his scapular (and rosary beads? - small hint there, Charlie) and publicly thanking Our Lord for all the blessings given him. Let's help make it happen.

St Peter's denial and the Church

Don't forget the daily Lenten meditations which Carmel Books blog is providing.

Here's t he concluding thought in today's meditation:

Why did our Lord permit him, who was to become the head of the Church, to fall so low? And why was it published to the whole world in the Gospel? The Fathers give the reasons for it. They say, in the first place, it was that St. Peter and his successors, the chief pastors of the Church, should excel in humility, and have a deep sympathy for the weakness of their people. Secondly, that the world, perceiving on what a weak foundation in itself the Catholic Church is built, should recognise that it is indeed the work of God, not of men, and that its existence is a wonder and a marvel. Thirdly, as a warning to men, that, no matter to what height of sanctity they have attained, they are still very weak, and stand in continual need of divine grace. We will therefore bless and exalt the wisdom of Divine Providence.

 This agrees with Hilaire Belloc's observation, which I posted a few weeks ago:

"The Catholic Church is an institution I am bound to hold divine — but for unbelievers a proof of its divinity might be found in the fact that no merely human institution conducted with such knavish imbecility would have lasted a fortnight."

  

Daily Lenten meditations

Pay attention to Carmel Books blog over Lent, as it will be providing daily meditations:

These daily meditations are taken from the out-of-print book Practical Meditations For Every Day in the Year on the Life of Our Lord Jesus Christ, which was composed chiefly for the use of religious by a Father of the Society of Jesus, and translated from French and published in England in 1868.